Are you a business owner looking for new ideas to improve employee morale, boost creativity and productivity? Do you wonder if adding features like tennis courts and jacuzzi tubs will help?

When it comes to improving the productivity of employees there is no answer in general.Great leadership plays the most important role!Managers need to find ways to motivate their employees with what they do and say – furniture and decor is just one part of it.

After bringing in the element of ‘fun’ like ping pong tables into an office space management will find out quickly that nobody is using them. Ping Pong tables will turn out to be more of a monument to what the business is trying to portrait.It is a fact that by encouraging pool tournaments it is not going to help any business achieving increases in revenue.

Many companies have asked me if re-designing an office in a way that it is more un-conventional will improve results. Managers now believe that productivity will be increased when adding entertainment zones. Wrong! Clearly by just taking this approach, the philosophy again is introduced that ‘one office idea fits all’.

For instance, just recently we designed a sales department in Dallas, Texas according to the principles of Feng Shui for offices. After we did the complete Feng Shui Consultation based on the Sitting and the Facing of the space we learned which Feng Shui colors and materials to introduce, and even more important what we need to avoid, to create an environment conducive to success.We stayed in close contact with each individual top producer of the company based on this range of energy enhancing aspects.Management personally involved each one of the Top Ten Sales People which created a high level of excitement which is rarely experienced. Learning from these top producers how they felt about their soon to be created work space taught us that the ‘one fits all approach’ is not the way to go. If you want to create a productive environment, it is far more important to involve each individual employee asking for input and ideas – creating a sense of ‘ownership’ for results.When consulting with a Feng Shui Professional you are not just hiring an interior designer to turn an office space into a game park – yet interior design layouts based on Feng Shui definetely works!

The spaces we created were so individual in out-come based on Feng Shui and the individual employee an outcome you will never achieve by just adding ping pong tables in order to appear “hip”.

Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of arranging interiors, is an effective way to direct energy and used in combination with quartz crystal singing bowls, will help you attract positive energy and good fortune into your life. The five elements of feng shui are a key factor in properly arranging your space to achieve the best results, and quartz singing crystal bowls can be used effectively with this method.

The Five Elements

Proper balance and placement of the five elements of feng shui (wood, fire, metal, earth, and water) is crucial to the proper flow of positive chi in your space. Quartz crystal singing bowls contain three of these elements – metal, earth and water, and they can be placed in several strategic places to enhance specific qualities.

The metal element is associated with both wealth and protection, and can be used to attract more money as well as guarding your space from negative influences. Place a bowl in the West, Northwest and North areas of your space to enhance these energies.
Water is another one of the major elements and governs our life-force, well-being, serenity, and our abilities to release and let go. It also has a direct influence on the flow of money. Place a bowl in the North, East and Southeast areas if you want to emphasize its water effects.
The Earth element represents stability, security and permanence, and with its nurturing qualities, it also supports deep, lasting relationships. Place
a crystal bowl in the Southwest, Northeast, West, Northwest and Center of your space for best enhancement of earth energies.
Other Beneficial Effects

With the quality of being tuned to specific notes, the tones themselves of crystal singing bowls can be used in creative ways to enhance your chi. For example, place a bowl tuned to the note of F (for the heart chakra) in the relationship area of your space to promote positive, loving interactions with other people. The material of crystal itself is also healing on its own, as crystal has strong clearing properties as well as positive energy. The light, color, and beauty of a crystal singing bowl will lift the energy of any area no matter where it is placed. Quartz crystal singing bowls are an effective tool for energy balancing, and users in combination with feng shui, will be sure to have a powerful effect on your life.

Feng shui water fountains has a unique ability for bringing a sense of harmony and tranquility into a room. For this reason, many corporate offices have started using these water fountains. These fountains actually have the ability to lower the noise decibels in a room, making it sound quieter than it really is.

This allows for one to feel peaceful an calm. This is a great way to keep down the stress and tension that can build on many corporate offices. There are different types of these feng shui water fountains that you can choose from to place in your office.

Many offices become loud and raise your stress level through the roof. When this happens, it is often times hard to find a way to relieve this stress and keep our bodies healthy. With the use of the feng shui water fountains, it is now possible to keep the noise in your corporate office down and reduce the stress level for every one around.

Not only can these fountains be used to reduce stress among you and your employees, but it will also give your clients a sense of harmony and tranquility as they walk into your office area. Now there are two main types of these water fountains for you to choose from. Two of the most popular types of these fountains are the table tops and wall mounted water fountains.

If you have a large office, you may want to incorporate more than one fountain throughout the area. To allow for total and complete control over the noise decibels and stress control. In choosing the right water fountain to display in your office to gain these effects is something that can be done alone, however, many people often opt to get outside assistance in choosing the right fountain to provide you with the desired abilities.

There are many reasons why you should use a feng shui water fountain in your office. Noise and stress level are just a couple that can be benefited from using them. These fountains can also be a good way to allow us to concentrate on our work. Without stress or noise we can focus on what we are doing.

There are many different types of offices and businesses that use these water fountains to control the noise level and have great success with their business. If your office suffers from high stress levels and noise volume, then you should look into these fountains as a means of getting it under control.

There are a host of options at your disposal. Double-sink vanities, custom storage hutches and wall-mounted cabinets all merging form and function. All you need to do is determine your style statementcontemporary, traditional, vintage, Asian inspired or Old World.

As for your design style, lets say its Asian inspired. You wouldnt be alone with interest in that motif. The American bath culture has indeed changed. Stressed homeowners seek refuge and solace and thats why so many of us are creating environments in our homes conducive to the Eastern concept of centering. You dont have to be a certified Feng Shui master to recognize this increasing trend. Which translates to simple, clean lines and minimalist features that are a signature of the Asian-influenced design leaning. So hot in home furnishings, its not at all surprising that this thematic has made its way into the kitchen and bath. Its a measure of good design.

Its all about global style. From deep soaking tubs, exotic shower waterfalls
and sinks that sleekly exemplify the art of Zen.

As homeowners integrate Japanese koi ponds into estate home entryways and lanai water features (as in a tranquil Asian-style lushly landscaped courtyards), the Asian-motifs grace and beauty continues to be used for accessories, flooring and
furniture. In hardgoods, there are plenty of Asian-inspired looks, including:
faucets with a bamboo-like sculpted finishes, along with drawer pulls reminiscent of bamboo, wood cabinetry inspired by Asian aesthetics and a sink series with its square wooden basins modeled after a traditional Japanese
soaking tub.

Clean lines and simple forms specifically characterize vanity cabinets defined by Pacific/eastern cultures. Asian design can be more asymmetrical. It is subtle, yet dramatic, and creates a peaceful ambiance. Whats noteworthy about Asian fusion basics is that some of the products arent even necessarily defined as such. But what makes them work so well is that they offer a less is more point of view with linear, sleek and contemporary sensibilities that combine unique and differentiating elements.

All of us have known the beauty that can be created by the use of paper lanterns. However, very few of us have any idea about the numerous usage and effects of using paper lanterns. Chinese have been using paper lanterns from thousands of years and according to them it plays a significant role in feng shui.

Paper lanterns help in increasing fertility:
Millions of women throughout the world face difficulty in getting pregnant. This can be a devastating experience if the wait is really long. Many people do not believe solely on doctors to help them fight the problem with their fertility. Feng shui is believed to help in improving fertility by using red paper lanterns. According to the theory of feng shui, red paper lanterns if hanged on both side of bed can help in getting pregnancy. Many feng shui experts even suggest using a red paper lantern directly over the bed.

Paper lanterns help in bringing positive energy in house
Feng shui is well known as an art that brings positive energy in peoples life. Paper lanterns are believed to play a significant role in bringing a positive energy and harmonica effect in your bedroom and house. Keeping paper lanterns on both or either side of bed is helpful in bringing positive Yang energy into the bedroom and improves the already present chi energy. Bright colored paper lanterns are more effective for harnessing Yang energy.

Paper lanterns help in bringing harmony to marriage
Feng shui uses the energy of polarity and according to it using a pair of same object is very effective. Using a pair of red paper lanterns on sides of bed, both lit simultaneously signify a long and happy marriage. However, for the effect to be more it is important to lit and switch off both the lanterns at the same time so that they work in harmony. This harmony is symbol of marriage and signifies the harmony between husband and wife.
Paper lanterns are very important part of feng shui process. Those who believe in feng shui will definitely know that paper lanterns are not just decorative but a source of positive energy.

Ever walked into a house that felt like home? Ever reminisced about the best year of your life, and wondered why everything came together for you? It could be Feng Shui.

Simply put, Feng Shui is about creating a harmonious environment. Its the ancient Chinese Science and Art of placement, intended to improve our health, harmony, longevity, career and wealth.

Pronounced, Fung Shway, it was a jealously guarded secret for thousands of years. Now, the benefits of Feng Shui can be enjoyed by anyone. In fact, Feng Shui is a part of everyday life for many Australian businesses, home owners, decorators, and architects.

June from June Turner Designs and Lifestyles has been an expert Feng Shui practitioner for 13 years. Feng Shui can be simple or involved whatever youre comfortable with. Decorate a room or buy a home that is perfect for your family.

The key is energy (or Qi Chee). June offers ten quick tips that can improve the flow, transformation, and containment of Qi in your life:

1) Remove shoes before entering a home. Dont take your problems in with you.

2) Cook at least one meal a day and eat at the table as a family.

3) Never have knives on show even in a block.

4) Always sit or stand facing the door (or its reflection).

5) Keep the toilet lid down and bathroom and laundry doors closed.

6) Don’t sleep under white blankets or doonas.

7) Don’t sleep with your feet facing the bedroom door.

8) Don’t sleep next to the wall that has the metre box on it.

9) If your front door is in line with a tree or the door of the house opposite, place a Ba Gua mirror above the outside of the door.

10) Never have a Ba Gua mirror in the house. They are far too powerful.

Its no coincidence that some of these tips are just common sense. Youve probably been practising Feng Shui for years without even knowing it!

According to June, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Just a few little changes can make the world of difference. But most solutions are specific to the individual.

For more information, contact June Turner Designs and Lifestyles on Sydney +612 43992018.

We spend most of our lives in the bedroom, so it is important to have a correct combination of wall paintings, feng shui symbols, furniture, colours and living nature such as plants, flowers, fish tank. Hence, Bedroom feng shui can give us the essential tools to create a place where you can relax, good night rest, no stress from work, improved family relationships and so on. Every room is different, so in order to fully appreciate the importance of harmonious arrangements, basically think of how miserable and unfriendly, untidy, clutter, dark bedroom looks like. Good floating chi can bring you luck, especially in wealth, health and romance but bad chi can makes your life miserable.

In order to prevent bad chi in our bedroom, there are some bedroom feng shui rules you must follow. Firstly, do not place anything such as furniture, plant behind the door because you needs chi coming to your room, not blocking chi. When the door opens, make sure always make it at 90 degree-angle at least. Anything below 90 degree-angle can prevent chi coming to your room, which is you don’t want that to happen. Some feng shui books also suggest that you have some living things to lay eyes just as you enter the bedroom. These living things can be plant, fish tank, flower, painting or anything else that can causes a positive response from people.

Decorating bedroom is a crucial thing part of bedroom feng shui. Use relaxing colours when painting the walls, avoid using reds or blacks. With your bed, you need to feel comfortable and must be in a command position. What do I mean in command position? Basically, just need to place the bed where you can see the door. Avoid placing your bed in a corner or any sharp corners facing you in the bedroom, feng shui called “poison arrows”. No mirrors in the bedroom especially for couple, feng shui believe having mirrors is just like having a third person in the room.

Keep your room clean at all time is another part of bedroom feng shui command. If you can, please avoid bring books, foods, water, and computer to your bedroom. If there are too many things in the room, then you are creating bad chi in your room. If you ever feel depressed, sick or headache in the morning, have a look around in your bedroom and see what you can do to improve good chi coming to your bedroom. Clutter can cause a negative influence on the corresponding area of your life. So by clearing clutter in your bedroom you can let go of all sorts of negative emotions.

To learn more about feng shui, please check out fengshuibedrooms.org site.

Here are some key items of this element: the color green, east or south-east direction, the symbol of a dragon, and more Yin than Yan energy. The symbols that depict it include flowers, trees, wooden items, rectangular furniture, straw crafts, paper crafts, fabric crafts, and paintings depicting a forest.

Its easy to add this element to your home using special feng shui figurines made of wood. Here are some good examples of such figures, and an explanation of their properties.

Elephant: The elephant figurine will help to make you more powerful and successful. Elephant became the symbol of a just and respected leader in China. The Elephant will help you acquire the necessary qualities to achieve recognition and high status. Place the statuette in your office or near your workplace at home.

Toad: A toad with coins in its hands is a talisman that helps to attract money. You need to place the toad near the entrance door, diagonally. Dont set it too high or too low. A money toad should look at the front door, welcoming wealth into your home. A money toad holds Chinese coins that symbolize prosperity.

Dragon: The dragon will help improve the energy of your home and help you succeed. The Dragon will activate the Yang energy that’s needed for success in new endeavors. The Dragon is one of the 4 protector animals, each of which corresponds to one of the four cardinal points. A dragon guards the eastern direction, so the statue is best put in the eastern sector of your house. However, the dragon embodiment of the feng shui wood element can be placed anywhere.

Dragon on a pearl: The dragon is a symbol of the Yang energy. In China, the dragon also symbolizes rain, which nourishes the earth and makes it fertile. The Dragon brings prosperity. The dragon that sits on the celestial pearl can help to make wishes come true. This figurine can be placed anywhere in your home or office.

Double happiness: The hieroglyph Double Happiness helps to harmonize relationships and strengthen love. In China, it’s a tradition to present this hieroglyph as a wedding gift, so that the newlyweds union remains strong. The hieroglyph is best hung in the south-west part of the bedroom, to attract and maintain love.

The mystic knot: The mystic knot is one of eight characters that appeared on the soles of the Buddha (according to legends). This sign is identified with the endless love, so beautiful that it has no beginning or end. It’s a good idea to hang this sign in the bedroom, to help prevent separations in your relationship.

These figurines are typically carved from a single piece of mahogany tree, Abash tree, and many others. They can become a perfect decoration for your home and help you balance your life using the feng shui wood element.